Shoe (comic strip)

Shoe, originally titled Shoe and the Bird, is a comic strip created by cartoonist Jeff MacNelly. Following MacNelly's death in 2000, the strip was continued by other artists and writers. The strip centers around the characters who are anthropomorphic birds living in the fictional Treetop, Ohio.

The main character, P. Martin "Shoe" Shoemaker, is an ink-stained newspaper reporter and editor for The Treetop Tattler. He's a middle-aged, perpetually rumpled bird who provides a sardonic and often cynical perspective on current events, life, and relationships.

Other recurring characters include:

• Perfesser Cosmo Fishhawk: A disheveled and often absent-minded college professor, frequently providing commentary on academic or philosophical matters.
• Roz: The waitress at the local diner, Roz's Roost, who serves as Shoe's confidante and a source of wry humor.
• Skyler: Shoe's young nephew who often visits and provides a youthful perspective.
• Hammerlock: Shoe's gruff and somewhat dim-witted friend, often seen engaging in simple activities.

The humor in Shoe is generally considered to be observational and topical, covering a wide range of subjects from politics and technology to everyday life. The strip's distinctive artwork and character designs, coupled with its witty writing, contributed to its long-running success.